Tuition & Financial Aid
WGU awarded over $6 million in scholarships last year.A scholarship makes tuition even more affordable.
Great news! Through the generosity of numerous corporations and foundations, plus special federal government appropriations, WGU maintains a robust program of scholarships made available to qualified students.
Scholarships are one of the many ways in which WGU removes obstacles from your path to achieving your education goals and improving your career opportunities. It’s part of our investment in the future of our students.
Jump to:
General Scholarships
Partner Scholarships
VA & Military Scholarships
Steps to apply
Scholarships available for new students.
The following scholarships are available for new WGU students, depending upon specific eligibility requirements for the particular scholarship. Students are eligible to apply for these scholarships within 60 days of starting a degree program, either before or after.
These are competitive programs. Recipients will be chosen based upon their academic record, financial need, readiness for online study, and current competency, plus other considerations.
Students are only eligible to receive one WGU scholarship per degree program. If a student qualifies for multiple scholarships, the review board will consider each opportunity and select which one to award, if any. Scholarship recipients must be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. WGU employees and their spouses are not eligible.
To learn more about or to apply for a specific scholarship, click on the specific scholarship name below.
For students who are ready to head back to school this fall. Apply by September 30th.
For the child or spouse of a WGU grad who is ready to experience the journey, and the career results, of a WGU degree. Apply by December 31st!
For WGU alums who are interested in pursuing a master's degree.
For experienced IT or healthcare professionals who wish to attend college online to move into the high-demand field of health information management.
In honor of National Nurses Week, May 6 through May 12, for motivated nurses who are ready to take on the increasing challenges of today’s healthcare practice. Apply by July 31, 2018!
For women who are ready to ramp up their careers, break through that glass ceiling, and share what they have to offer the workplace. Apply by September 30, 2018.
For licensed and aspiring teachers who wish to earn a bachelor's or master’s degree. Apply by July 31, 2018!
From our official spokesowl, Sage, for future WGU graduates. Apply by July 31st!
For new MSN or health leadership students at WGU who display the spirit and commitment to leadership exemplified by Linda Knodel.
For former ITT Tech students who wish to continue to pursue their higher education through a degree program at WGU.
For ANPD members looking to earn a WGU online bachelor’s degree or master's degree in nursing or healthcare.
WGU has partnered with the Accountable Care Learning Collaborative (ACLC) to provide members and partnering companies readiness in the growing need for high-performing leadership in the healthcare industry.
For NEA members who wish to attend college online to earn their teaching master’s degrees.
To help five new WGU students on their journey to a better life through higher education.
WGU has partnered with the Western Association of Food Chains to help employees of eligible WAFC partner institutions earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
WGU has partnered with the Corporation for National and Community Service to help AmeriCorps alumni finish a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
For graduates and staff of WGU partner community colleges looking to earn a WGU bachelor’s or master’s degree.
For employees of WGU’s partner hospitals and healthcare organizations who wish to advance their education to become educators, managers, and leaders in vital healthcare fields.
For employees of WGU’s partner institutions who wish to advance their education in the business, education, information technology, or healthcare fields.
Western Governors University has partnered with Free For Charity to offer scholarships for professionals working in the nonprofit sector seeking a master's or undergraduate degree.
Western Governors University has partnered with National Association of Community Colleges with Teacher Education Programs (NACCTEP) to offer scholarships for graduates and staff of NACCTEP-affiliated community colleges to complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree and obtain teacher licensure.
For motivated Phi Theta Kappa members with an associate's degree who wish to continue their education and earn a bachelor's degree.
For Red Cross employees and volunteers who are new WGU students that want to earn a WGU bachelor's or master's degree.
For motivated students who have completed at least four StraighterLine courses who wish to continue their education and earn a degree.
For Chicago Public School support staff enrolling in WGU Teachers College bachelor’s degree programs that lead to an initial teaching license. Apply by July 31, 2018!
For an ANPD member and exceptionally qualified nurse pursuing a career in nursing education and looking to sharpen their skills and earn their MSN at WGU. Apply by October 31st.
WGU has partnered with the National Military Family Association to offer active duty, veteran military personnel, and their spouses an opportunity to advance their education.
3 steps to apply for WGU scholarships.
Now that you've looking at scholarships and found one that might apply to you, here's how you apply.
1. Complete the admissions application.
To be considered for any WGU scholarships, you must be provisionally accepted as a WGU student. Complete the admissions application and work with your enrollment counselor to move through the admissions process.
2. Complete the general scholarship application.
The general application is required for all WGU scholarships, and lets us learn more about you and which scholarships you may be eligible for. To access the application, you will need your MyWGU student portal credentials, which will be sent to you shortly after Step 1. You must complete the application within 60 days of your intended start date.
3. Log in to scholarship portal and apply.
Based on what you tell us in Step 2, we’ll let you know which scholarships you might be eligible for. Finish up by reviewing the recommended opportunities and completing the supplemental application for each scholarship you’d like to be considered for. These additional applications need to be submitted within 5 days of submitting the general application.
Common questions about scholarships.
How do you select scholarship winners?
It depends upon the scholarship. In general, we award scholarships based on the following factors:
- Meeting the basic eligibility requirements
- Answers you give on the scholarship application
- An interview with a scholarship counselor
Some scholarships are also based upon evaluations of prior college transcripts and other tests. We encourage you to apply.
When will I find out if I’m selected?
WGU evaluates scholarship applications on a continual basis because we start new students in their programs every month. Often we are able to make an award decision within two to four weeks of receiving your application. In most cases, you will also need to have applied for admission and been accepted to the university. An Enrollment Counselor can help explain the process.
Do I get the scholarship all at once?
No. Scholarship awards are divided into a set amount per term. This amount is credited against your tuition due for each term. The details are explained in the description for each scholarship.
Can I also apply for financial aid?
Yes. You probably should apply for federal financial aid, too. Scholarship awards will only cover a portion of your school expenses, and financial aid can help pay for the rest. You can apply for financial aid while you are waiting for a decision about your scholarship application. It will not hurt your chances to win a scholarship. Here is full information on financial aid.
Next Start Date
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Ready to move forward toward achieving your goals? Millions of dollars in available scholarships can put the dream of a college degree even more within reach! Get started today—the first step is to apply for admission.